Sitting All Day Is Linked To This Painful Symptom — And Men Are More Likely To Develop It

You may want to stand up and do a few stretches while reading this.

At this point, research has established that prolonged sitting is really harmful to our health. It’s linked to conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, but what if it’s also the reason for your back pain or that pesky knee pain that pops up every time you try to jog?

While there are multiple causes of back and knee pain, sitting all day at a desk job may be a major factor, too. Here’s what to know:

Sitting all day can cause tight hip flexors.

“A lot depends on how you sit, but essentially, prolonged sitting puts your iliopsoas, which is your primary hip flexor, into a shortened position,” said Dr. Michael Fredericson, a professor of sports medicine and the director of Stanford Lifestyle Medicine in California.